Holiday parties with our coworkers can be a defining point in our work relationships. We foresee this year's festivities unraveling in two scenarios.

Best case scenario: Your loose lips sink the same ship as one of your coworkers and you row off through a river of gin and gossip in a two-seat life raft after agreeing that Susan is hard to work with.

If a stroll through your office turns up a plethora of school photos tacked to cubicle walls, this is a sign you might have to consider the youngins when planning your company’s holiday party. Punch Bowl Social, located centrally downtown, is family-friendly but not overly so. Bring your kids here for the holiday party if they’ve seen mommy and daddy a bit tipsy in the past. Options for providing liquid courage include a consumption bar (best boss EVER), cash bar where all guests pay as they go (booo!) or drink tickets, which can be paid for ahead of time. Bowling, ping pong, karaoke, darts, ‘80s arcade, fireplaces and more can be used for breaks in the awkward silence and work-related chatter. (340 SW Morrison St.; 503-334-0360)

Saraveza, the North Killingsworth Street Midwest-themed bar with an excellent beer selection also has a speakeasy for your private event needs. You’ll have your own private tavern if you book with Bad Habit Room this holiday season. There are a ton of catering packages available, such as the Taste of the Midwest Platter made up of brat bites, summer sausage, chedder, Ritz Crackers, cream cheese stuffed jalapenos and more. (1004 N. Killingsworth St.; 503-206-4552)

 

Everytime we see Adam Sappington, the man behind Montavilla’s Country Cat, at a food event we imagine he’s the host of his own Food Network show. There’s just something about his appearance and body language that screams TV personality. That being said, whether or not your coworkers will appreciate Country Cat for its position as a staple in the Portland dining scene, they are bound to be entranced by Sappington. The Calico Room is a 1,200 square foot space that can accommodate 40 people sitting or 60 standing, and hopefully Sappington makes an appearance. (7937 SE Stark St.; 503-408-1414)

 

Firehouse Restaurant, located inside of an old firehouse in Dekum Triangle, serves a central and southern Italian inspired menu including pizza prepared in a wood-fired oven. The second floor of the Dekum Firehouse can seat up to 44 for lunch or dinner and up to 70 for standing receptions. If you’re super fancy you can also buyout the entire restaurant for the night, accommodating up to 100 for seated dinners and up to 200 for standing receptions. (711 NE Dekum St.; 503-954-1702)

The historic Heathman Restaurant located downtown, has over 4,000 square feet of event space. Heathman is perfect for large work groups or networking events because the space is large and the cuisine is plentiful, like whole-suckling-pig plentiful. Bonus points: Heathman updates its cocktail menu seaonally and has a festive holiday cocktail menu available. (1001 SW Broadway St.; 503-790-7752)

 

Cooper’s Hall in industrial SE has quickly become a hot spot for wedding receptions and corporate events. Cooper's Hall, which has over 40 taps of wine, beer and cider paired with cuisine by Roscoe Roberson, former sous chef at Racion, is a collaboration of some of Portland's most influential restaurantuers. We’ve seen parties rent out the entire winery and taproom, but there’s also a mezzanine level that overlooks the main floor that can accommodate up to 183 people. (404 SE 6th Ave.; 503-719-7000)

The rustic and funky NE King neighborhood restaurant expanded to its existing space to create Elder Hall through the help of the community and a Kickstarter campaign. Purveyor, Jason French, created the space to “celebrate the spirit and bounty of Oregon through communal gatherings with a focus on camaraderie and collaboration.” Winter bounty prepared in the commissary kitchen is sure to please your crowd. Another idea: sign your small company up for a cooking class at Elder Hall like the Small Suppers or the Christmas Feast Class. Nothing comes close to team bonding like putting out a small kitchen fire together. (3929 NE MLK Blvd.; 503-477-4725)

If your group of coworkers can get a little loudmouthed after a few Manhattans or a group that likes to move around and mingle, Irving Street Kitchen, located in the Pearl, might be an option for you. The enclosed private dining room can hold a 72-person marketing or tech company or 120 people for a standing reception. (701 NW 13th Ave.; 503-343-9440)

For cozy alpine dining downtown, Grüner is your spot. The Glacier Room (accommodates 16 people) is located between the main restaurant and its craft cocktail bar Kask. Stammtisch is another small, partially secluded dining area located within the restaurant that can hold up to 10 people. Our recommendation if your employees have been extra productive this past year: reserve the Glacier Room in conjunction with Kask. Your whole team will be thinking of the awesomeness of the craft cocktails from Kask well into the new year. (527 SW 12th Ave.; 503-241-7163)

Andina, the high-end Peruvian restaurant in NW, has become a popular gathering place for large groups. The Tupai room, located above the restaurant, is where most of the restaurant’s dinners and events are held and can hold up to 65 people. Get fancy up there with Prix Fixe menus or tasting and sharing menus. The George V (50 people) or the Tourmaline room (20 people) are also available. For a smaller group of 16 or less, we recommend the Pearl Wine Shop where you can sit around a long, oak table in the super private wine cellar and talk about all of the things you can’t talk about at work. (1314 NW Glisan St.; 503-228-9535)